Sentinelist

Ok, so the head gasket didn't blow like I feared in my other thread, but on further reflection as I'm replacing other stuff, it does seem to be seeping a lot of oil, even pooling in one small spot by the #2 cyl. on the inboard side. Very greasy under the intake manifold. Is this just 'old car' or should I be concerned and planning to replace this anyway ASAP? Car has good pressure and runs fine so no real worries aside from noticing this.

F40LM

Sorry remind us...what is car used for? Daily driver, once a month fun car, future track warrior?

Michael

Sentinelist

Near-daily, shares 50/50 duty with my Audi generally. Has never seen a track before TMK, though I would like to take it out once a year for some DE stuff. I'm still about a year away from doing that as I continue to sort the car.

Sentinelist

Bump for any thoughts

mytrplseven

I'd get some flourescent dye and put it in the oil. Then run the motor for a few days and use the special glasses and flashlight and start looking around. I'd gunk and spray the engine off first to get a clean place to start. The kits are available at most auto parts stores and although cheap, worth their weight in gold. I love'm.

divil

You sure the oil is not coming from the cam tower gasket, rather than the head gasket?

CyCloNe!

Check your boost hose from the turbo... I was getting puddles in the same spot and they were staying there, come to find out I had leaking from that hose. If it's leaking you'll feel/see some oil film on it and maybe see a small split in the hose

Sentinelist

Good tips. Let me take a photo here in the next day or three to confirm what I'm seeing with you guys first...

Sentinelist

Ok, center of the photo, you can see a reflection from a tiny puddle of oil. There is a seam above this that runs the length of the... maybe it's still the valve cover gasket down there?

Engine bay is still pretty nasty from a heater control valve coolant blowout last month, so still need to clean.

TexasRider

First, how is the new little one ?

Second, while I cant say it needs replacement ASAP, I would say replace it if you dont know when it was done.

And before it lets go somewhere and other bad things happen like a milkshake, bearings get washed, etc.

I will post a pic of mine at 92,000 but before I get to that, all I can say is that it was very bad. Not leaking, but I am not sure I ever saw one any worse still holding.

Sentinelist

The little one is doing fantastically, thanks for remembering!

So this is still the head gasket, not the valve cover? This would be obvious if I went back out to look underhood and doublecheck, but I am a lazy man. I'm not opposed to tearing down and doing this but need some validation. Of the issue at hand, not myself. Yet.

spanky

If you do chose to use this dye dont wait a few days as the fans will blow the leaking oil/dye all over the place. Clean the engine, pour in the dye , start the car and find the leak asap before the fans come on and make a green mess!!

968 GUY

As cyclone stated, check that banjo fitting and the hose connected to it. My old eyes seem to see oil around that fitting and maybe one of the copper seals missing.

divil

The valve cover gasket ends at the left of your photo, just left of the intake ports...of course the head slopes down so if oil leaks out of that gasket you might see it down there, but then you'd see it all over the surface of the head too I imagine.

Sentinelist

I can certainly check. Where are you seeing the banjo fitting? Have heard the term before but not familiar with it yet.

Ok, so the 'seal' around the head below the intake ports is indeed the head gasket? The other side by the exhaust manifold is bone dry- it's just this side (not sure if on front or back yet, perhaps not).